- What is this bandage good for? It is very easy to use. Just take it, unpack from the film, put it on the wound and that’s all. It is great for burns and minor wounds. Also it can be fixed with a bandage, - explains Solomiia Kapatsila, a fourth-year student at the Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Technologies, Lviv Polytechnic (specialty «Chemical technologies of food additives and cosmetics»).
These hydrogel medical bandages are made at Lviv Polytechnic National University. They are created on the basis of natural polymers, in particular sodium alginate, obtained from algae. And this significantly distinguishes the product from among analogues. After all, most companies that produce modern bandages make them from synthetic materials.
- There are cases of irritation, allergies, eczema from such bandages, if they are somehow knocked out of technology. But the bandages made of natural raw materials, alginate, pectin and gelatin, are very gentle on the body, - says Volodymyr Samaryk, Doctor of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor at the University Department of Organic Chemistry.
The finished sachets are subjected to tingling 5 more times to finally kill all microorganisms. And only then the bandages are transferred to medical institutions and the front line.
By the way, they heal certain types of wounds even without additional drugs. In particular, they proved to be the best for burns. Also, these hydrogel bandages are used as postoperative and to accelerate the healing of torn wounds. Therefore, if necessary, they are saturated with additional drugs.
- So far, in most cases, they are saturated with bactericides to make them antiseptic. Also there are options when we can saturate them with drugs and painkillers, - explains Volodymyr Samaryk.
Currently, approximately 500 such bandages are produced here daily. We managed to do this due to the active support of volunteers who have been very helpful to scientists since the first days of the war. In particular, they provided the necessary materials and components, as well as equipment.
Since all this was provided by volunteers for free, the Polytechnic bandages are also provided free of charge.